Final answer:
True, some orchids use deception for pollination by mimicking female insect appearance and pheromones to attract male insects, which transfer pollen while attempting to mate with the flower.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true. Some orchid species do resort to intricate deception strategies to ensure pollination. Specifically, certain orchids have evolved to use both physical and chemical mimicry to entice male insects by imitating the appearance and pheromones of female insects. For instance, the bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) uses visual mimicry to attract pollinators, whereas the Australian hammer orchid combines visual appearance with synthesized pheromones to impersonate female wasps. The wasp, attracted by the scent and appearance, lands on the orchid to mate, and in the process, transfers pollen. Another example is Chiloglottis trapeziformis, which releases a compound that smells like the pheromone of a female wasp. These methods of pollination by deception ensure the continuation of these orchid species without providing actual food rewards like nectar.